Charlotte General Mills Speed Street Events

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 12, 2000) --- To gear up for their new partnership
with John Andretti and Petty Enterprises, Cheerios / Betty Crocker Racing
will team up with their other General Mills brands including Pop-Secret,
Wheaties, Golden Grahams,...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 12, 2000) --- To gear up for their new partnership
with John Andretti and Petty Enterprises, Cheerios / Betty Crocker Racing
will team up with their other General Mills brands including Pop-Secret,
Wheaties, Golden Grahams, Chex for Food Lion Speed Street in downtown
Charlotte May 25- 27, 2000.
The Cheerios / Betty Crocker Racing Family Fun Stop will feature
popular samples of General Mills products, show cars, an interactive
contest and NASCAR Winston Cup driver appearances. All activities will be
located street side and inside Founders Hall at the Bank of America
Corporate Center at 100 North Tryon Street in Charlotte.
Race fans will be able to join in the countdown to July 1, 2000
when Cheerios and Betty Crocker become the primary sponsor of John
Andretti and Petty Enterprises by getting a glimpse of the new #43
Pontiac. Also on display will be John Andretti's special edition Wheaties
Pontiac paint scheme that will compete in The Winston on May 20th, three
new Pop-Secret paint schemes designed by Sam Bass, Cale Yarborough's 1976
Monte Carlo and Adam Petty's No. 45 Sprint Chevrolet. Betty Crocker and
Hamburger Helper will also sponsor a stage located in Founders Hall that
will feature the Hamburger Helper Family Challenge every half-hour. Fans
can compete each day for prizes and the top teams throughout the weekend
will return on Saturday evening at 9:30 p.m. for the final competition and
a chance to win VIP passes to Richard Petty's condominium at Lowe's Motor
Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 on May 28th. The Betty Crocker/Hamburger
Helper stage will also be the location for Cheerios/ Betty Crocker Racing
driver appearances throughout the weekend. The appearance schedule
includes a special announcement and autograph session with the No. 43
Cheerios / Betty Crocker pit crew from 5-7 p.m. and an autograph session
with NASCAR Winston Cup driver Adam Petty from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, May
26th. On Saturday, May 27th, join Wheaties NASCAR Legends Richard Petty,
Ned Jarrett, Cale Yarborough and Benny Parsons for an autograph session
from 7-9 p.m. TNN commentator Steve Byrnes will host the final round of
the Hamburger Helper Family Challenge at 9:30 p.m. All appearance times
are subject to change.
Pop-Secret is proud to be a sponsor of the No. 43 Pontiac and the
Pop-Secret Microwave Popcorn 400. To celebrate they are giving away free
popcorn and race tickets at Speed Street. Fans can visit the Pop-Secret
tent and register to win one of 43 pairs of tickets to the Pop-Secret
Microwave Popcorn 400 at North Carolina Speedway this October.
"We have enjoyed getting involved in Food Lion Speed Street in the
past and this year we have increased our presence on N. Tryon Street and
in Founders Hall with the Cheerios / Betty Crocker Racing Family Fun
Stop," said Scott Hayes, Assistant Motorsports Coordinator for General
Mills. "We really want the race fans to connect with our new primary
sponsorship of John Andretti and Petty Enterprises. Our entire
organization is excited about this year and everything we have going on at
Speed Street will show it. We hope the race fans will have as much fun as
we are having this year."